Pot insulation while heating ?

[Thom]

Does using insulation on the lid while cooking increases efficiency? I can put my pot cozy on  the pot upside down while cooking. I guess my question is . Does insulating my pot while heating a good idea ? Save fuel ? I mostly use esbit but would guess same for any type cooking.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

For just boiling water, I find that lid insulation has a negligible impact on fuel economy

It does help for simmering and it is great for Dry Baking.

[Roger Caffin]

Having some insulation down the side of the pot might help, until the bottom edge starts burning.
On the lid – very little effect ime.

But if I take a bpoiling pot off the stove and want to let the contents cook a little longer, then I cover the whole pot to keep the wind off it. I normally just plonk my hat over it :)

Cheers

[DAN-Y]

Does using insulation on the lid while cooking increases efficiency? 

Negative….it decreases efficiency.

Cheers

Dan

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Here is a screen shot from a video that I made about 10 year ago.  It was looking a the cool down temperature of a hot pot of water (4 cups).

Condition one (Plain Pot) was removing the pot (lid on) and placing the pot in ambient air (calm)

Condition two (No Hat) was leaving the pot in the windscreen (lid on) and letting the system cool down.

Condition 3 (Flat Cat Hat) was leaving the pot in the windscreen (lid on) with a carbon fiber hat.

 

You can see that after 15 minutes the difference between the carbon felt on and no insulation was 3 degrees.  Since I started wit 4 cups, this coresponds to about a 7.5 watt energy savings.

Dry baking targets about a 75-100 watt power scorce so a 7.5 watt savings helps.  Not a big deal for just boiling water.  My 2 cents.

[Roger Caffin]

No lid, so steam and the heat of evaporation escape, is very different from any lid which keeps the steam in.

Cheers

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

All test were with the lid on.  The only  differences were either removing it from teh windscreen or adding a carbon fiber insulator.

[Ben H.]

Nice analysis John! Simple and reasonably accurate. Looks like an 8-10% increased efficiency.

[DAN-Y]

Ben H.BPL MEMBER
Nice analysis John!

I agree.

Cheers

Dan

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